This Media Fact Sheet contains brief information on deep sea minerals and the SPC-EU Deep Sea Minerals Project. The fact sheet is specifically designed for distribution to media outlets.

Below features series of questions usually queried on deep sea minerals. This first set of questions and answers focuses on the types of minerals found in Pacific waters, their importance and what the deep sea minerals project is doing to improve the governance of deep sea minerals in the Pacific.

1. What are deep sea minerals?

The three major deep sea mineral deposits that have excited commercial interests include Seafloor Massive Sulphides (SMS), Manganese Nodules and Cobalt-rich Crusts. Many of the world’s deep sea minerals deposits are formed near the geologically active area known as the Pacific Rim of Fire.

SMS deposits are formed by active hydrothermal vents sometimes referred to as “Black Smokers”. These high pressure superheated fluids escape through cracks in the earth’s surface and mix with cold seawater at depths of 400-5000 metres. When this happens the minerals that are formed and fall to the sea floor include high concentrations of metals such as Copper, Gold, Silver, Zinc and Lead.

Manganese Nodules occur on the ocean floor at a depth of 4000-6000 metres and they include Nickel, Copper and Cobalt. Cobalt-rich Crusts generally occurs on seamounts and around the flanks of volcanic islands at about 400-4000 metres deep and they include Cobalt, Nickel and Platinum.

Currently in the Pacific the most commercially viable mineral deposits are the Seafloor Massive Sulphides. This is because of their high concentration of metals and the discovery of accessible sites in relatively shallower depths of around 1500 to 3000 metres. The proposed method of mining Seafloor Massive Sulphides also focuses on relatively small areas of the seabed with a portable harvesting system that can be moved from one site to another in a matter of days.

2. What do we know about deep sea mineral resources in the Pacific?

Scientists only proved the existence of hydrothermal vents in 1977 but now deposits of Seafloor Massive Sulphides have been found in the territorial waters of Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.

Other deposits such as Manganese Nodules have been found in the territorial waters of Kiribati, Cook Islands, Tuvalu and Niue while Cobalt-rich Crust have been found in the territorial waters of Kiribati, Tuvalu, Samoa, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia,Palau and Niue.

From the mid-1970s to the mid 2000s SOPAC, now known as the region’s Geoscience Division (GSD) of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, engaged in exploration efforts for deep sea minerals in partnership with Pacific Island Countries. Between 1985 and 2005 SOPAC and the Government of Japan worked with 12 Pacific Island Countries to assess the resource potential for the three target types of deep sea mineral resources.

In recent years, commercial interest in the deep sea minerals of Pacific Island Countries has increased rapidly as a result of increasing global demand, improved mining technology and several successful exploration ventures. Deep sea minerals that occur with the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of many Pacific Island Countries are increasingly being recognized as a future potential source of revenue and economic development.

In 1997 the Canadian company, Nautilus Minerals, was granted with the first offshore exploration licence in Papua New Guinea. In January 2011 the PNG government granted Nautilus a 20-year licence to mine a site in the Bismarck Sea, 30 kilometres off the coast of New Ireland. But a dispute with the Government has suspended the company’s plans (to use underwater robotic technology to extract up to 1.3 million tons of ore containing minerals per year from their site known as Solwara 1).

The discovery of SMS deposits in the waters of Papua New Guinea and Tonga led to a rush for applications for exploration licences within other countries maritime zones. Over 300 exploration licenses have now been granted within national jurisdictions of a number of Pacific Island Countries such as the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. If metal prices continue to rise countries like the Cook Islands are likely to become involved in the extraction of Manganese Nodules which are seen as more challenging to harvest.

Pacific Island countries have also been active in seabed mineral development beyond national jurisdiction, by sponsoring companies to carry out exploration activities in international waters, where the seabed is known as ‘the Area’ and is managed (‘for the benefit of mankind as a whole’) by the International Seabed Authority (‘the ISA’).

4. What are the potential impacts of mining deep sea minerals?

Marine scientists are only starting to learn about the newly discovered organisms that depend on hydrothermal vents for life. Some fear that deep-sea mining activities could cause lasting and irreparable damage to these unique habitats before we develop any detailed understanding of these new species.

The Pacific Deep Sea Minerals Project recommends that Pacific Island countries prioritise the development of national polices and laws before any mining is contemplated. Throughout the Pacific region civil society organisations are asking tough questions about what steps their Governments are taking to ensure these important deep sea mineral resources are managed in the most environmentally and socially responsible way, for example the Deep Sea Mining Campaign.

Because there is still a great deal to learn about how the ocean environment may be affected by deep sea mineral exploration and mining activities the Pacific Deep Sea Minerals Project advocates that all countries should adopt the ‘precautionary approach’ to the management of their deep sea minerals resources.

5. What does the Pacific Deep Sea Minerals Project Do?

The Pacific Deep Sea Minerals Project has been specifically designed to operate as an independent adviser for Pacific Island Countries. The role of the Project is to provide countries with the relevant information and advice they need to make informed decisions whether they want allow deep sea mining within their national jurisdictions.

If countries decide to engage in deep sea mining activities, the role of the Project is to provide countries with the technical assistance needed to assess the risks and meet their legal responsibilities under international law. For example, the Project is also designed to ensure that countries have in place an effective environmental management and monitoring regime for any offshore exploration and mining. According to international law any Pacific Island contemplating deep sea mining must also commit to protecting the ocean environment, minimizing pollution, and to preserving any rare or fragile ecosystems and ocean habitats.

If countries do decide to give out exploration and mining licences for their deep sea minerals resources it is critical that they contain terms that protect the country from environmental damage, protect the people from impacts on their livelihoods, and ensure a proper financial return that will be collected and managed responsibly. The Pacific Deep Sea Mining Project is funded by the European Union to assist Pacific Island countries achieve this outcome.

6. What has the Pacific Deep Sea Minerals Project already done to improve the governance of deep sea minerals in the Pacific?

The Pacific Deep Sea Minerals Project has already undertaken a number of activities designed to inform a wide range of stakeholders about the technical, legal, economic and environmental impacts of deep sea mining. The Project has developed a series of practical training workshops and related information resources to help build governance capacity and engage key stakeholders in the decision-making process.

Over the last two years the Project has held “National Deep Sea Minerals Stakeholder Consultation Workshops” in the 15 participating countries, where different stakeholders, including community leaders and NGOs, are invited to discuss opportunities and issues related to deep sea minerals. The Project now aims to work with the countries, via a Government focal point and a multi-stakeholder National Offshore Mining Committee, to implement the priority actions identified in each national workshop.

In August 2012, the Project supported countries to launch a Regional Legislative and Regulatory Framework (RLRF) that will enable countries to develop national frameworks needed to improve the management of their own marine mineral resources. The Project is now working with member country Governments to develop national policy and law for the State’s regulation of seabed mineral activities.

The Project also runs a legal internship programme to train up Pacific Island lawyers on seabed minerals law, and can fund other technical training opportunities for Government personnel from the region. For more information on these opportunities, please contact the Project on: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Project will continue to support greater efforts to increase public awareness of deep sea mineral issues and to increasing stakeholder engagement in the decision-making process. Better scientific information and greater transparency will improve decision-making and result in better national management systems for deep sea minerals. These systems should help to minimize any potential degradation of the environment, ensure equitable distribution of benefits, and help to avoid possible conflicts.

Consultations with the participating countries determined the need for a series of practical workshops to help build governance capacity and engage key stakeholders in the decision-making process. In response, the Pacific ACP Deep Sea Minerals Project has developed a regional technical training programme with a series of 1-week regional training workshops covering the following key areas:

The Deep Sea Minerals Project is a collaboration between the Pacific Community (SPC) and the European Union (EU).

Initiated in 2011, the €4.4 million DSM Project is helping Pacific Island countries to improve the governance and management of their deep-sea minerals resources in accordance with international law, with particular attention to the protection of the marine environment and securing equitable financial arrangements for Pacific Island countries and their people.

Project Goal and Objectives

A primary objective of the project is to support informed and careful governance of any deep sea mining activities in accordance with international law, with particular attention to the protection of the marine environment and securing equitable financial arrangements for Pacific Island countries and their people.

The Project is also working to encourage and support participatory decision-making in the governance and management of national deep sea minerals resources.

Despite the rapidly growing commercial interest in deep sea minerals many Pacific nations do not have the necessary legal or management systems needed to ensure the responsible management of these important natural resources.

In response to this urgent need Pacific Island countries requested the development of a regional project to help governments develop the national frameworks and technical capacity needed to strengthen the management of their national deep sea mineral resources.

Key result areas

Key Result Area 1 - Development of Regional Legislative and Regulatory Framework

Key Result Area 2 - Formulation of National Policy, Legislation and Regulations

Individual countries will be encouraged to use the RLRF to harmonize legislation throughout the region. The main activities will comprise:

1. National stakeholder workshops to facilitate the development of national policy, legislation and regulations; 2. Support for National Offshore Minerals Committees (NOMC);3. Development of marine mineral policies, focusing on those countries with the most immediate needs;4. Formulation of national offshore minerals legislation; and5. Review national policies and legislation to be submitted to cabinet for enactment.

Key Result Area 3 - Building National Capacities

The Project will help countries to build needed capacity among national technical professionals in the areas of marine minerals, policy development, fiscal and taxation regimes and environmental monitoring.

Key Result Area 4 - Effective Management and Monitoring of Offshore Exploration and Mining Operations

The Project will assist countries to develop monitoring systems for deep-sea mining operations.

UNEP/GRID-Arendal was contracted to conduct a state of knowledge assessment of the Pacific marine minerals based on previous marine scientific studies and exploration. A technical Steering Committee, comprising a number of world renowned experts as well as representatives of the SPC-EU DSM Project and key stakeholders in the region, was established to guide and support this Project deliverable under the SPC-UNEP/GRID-Arendal partnership.

The Pacific- ACP States Regional Environmental Management Framework for Deep Sea Minerals Exploration and Exploitation is produced and published by the Deep Sea Minerals Project. It contains an overview of deep sea mineral deposit environments and potential environmental impacts of deep sea mining projects, as well as management and mitigation strategies, including an environmental impact assessment report template.

The Pacific-ACP States Regional Financial Framework for Deep Sea Minerals Exploration and Exploitation is produced in collaboration with the Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre (PFTAC). The Framework provides an overview of key issues in the financial management of revenues and wealth associated with the potential development of deep sea minerals in the region.

The Pacific-ACP States Regional Scientific Research Guidelines for Deep Sea Minerals is produced in collaboration with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) of New Zealand.The framework contains scientific and regulatory guidelines for establishing national guidelines and regulations for marine scientific research, prospecting and exploration activities relating to deep sea minerals research.The scientific guidelines include detailed information on current “best practice” research techniques, covering aspects of survey design, sampling gear, and the collection and processing of samples and data. These have been designed to help not just the Pacific ACP states, but also researchers and contractors working in other national as well as international waters.

A Report which represents the Outcomes of the Workshop held by the ISA in collaboration with the Goverment of Fiji and the SOPAC Division of SPC via the DSM Project. The report which was jointly compiled by both the ISA and the SPC contains a EIA template developed for deep sea minerals activities in the international seabed, also known as "the Area" is available here : Environmental Management Needs for Exploration and Exploitation of Deep Sea Minerals [ISA Technical Study 10]

The DSM Project has produced and published this legal framework document (called the 'RLRF' for short), designed to assist Pacific Island States in their development of national policy and law for DSM. The RLRF - a world-first - was developed over a 6-monthly consultation period and the list of contributors can be found in its Annex. It has been endorsed by all 15 Project member countries, and was launched by the Director General of SPC and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Cook Islands at the Pacific Island Forum Leaders meeting in 2012. Hard copies of the RLRF are also available upon request to [This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.] download: Regional Legislative and Regulatory Framework

The DSM Project shares with the world the success of the Project's work that is available at Achievements Brochure

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Videos

Under Pressure documentary examines the perspectives of different stakeholders involved with deep sea mineral resources in the Pacific.

Out of Darknessdocumentary focuses on environmental impacts of deep sea mining.

Breaking the Surface explores how PNG and Vanuatu are working with their communities to manage future opportunities and impacts associated with the deep sea mining industry.

Expert Q&A This underwater footage from Seafloor Massive Sulphide site features Professor Cindy Van Dover, a Deep-Ocean exploration expert who talks about the ecosystem below and the importance of knowing about deep sea mining impacts.

Legal Interns Video Former legal interns of the DSM Project took to the camera to share their experiences and the skills acquired during their internships with the Project.